Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy told reporters on Tuesday that the entire Mangaluru bomb incident was just a “farce and the entire episode of defusing the bomb seems like a mock exercise.”

Speaking about the bag found at the Mangaluru International Airport on Monday he said, “The bag contained powder used for the manufacture of crackers. It was not a live bomb.”

He further lashed out at the government saying that incident was doctored to appease some organizations. He said, “I would like to ask the government the fact about yesterday’s bomb incident. There is no truth in it. There was no live bomb in it. It was a conspiracy to create a rift between two communities. Looking at the way the police tried to defuse the bomb, I feel like taking a decision in future to honor them duly. I have not woven stories, but I’ve been quoting the stories appearing in the media.”

“Ten kilograms of live bomb has made the people of the state panic. An iron box in the bag contained cracker powder and wire pieces in it and there were no detonators to explode it. A large container has been brought to shift the bag and defuse it. Defusing takes place only when a bomb is found. It seems like a mock exercise. Don’t try to breach the trust of people in the state. This is not a government of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad or RSS. Don’t create rift between religions,” he added.

Kumaraswamy also mentioned that the incident was suspicious especially because it took place during the unrest due to the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens protests in the state. He said, “We have been witnessing developments that create a tension in the minds of the people. Mangaluru and coastal region were peaceful during the 14 months of the coalition government. Due to the central government’s decisions with regards to the CAA and NRC, we have been witnessing protests across the nation. The December 19 violence in Mangaluru has created an atmosphere where people lost trust. The government has forgotten its responsibility to solve major issues before the nation when the nation is witnessing protests and campaigns related to CAA and NRC.”

Suspecting foul play he asked, “While the Chief Minister is in Davos wooing investors, the BJP’s actions are portraying Mangaluru as a communal city. How will this help attract investments? Media reports state that the accused is an engineer and was trying to secure a job at the Mangaluru airport. Today, unemployment is a huge problem. I want to highlight this point to the attention of both the Home Minister and the Prime Minister of this country.”

Aiming his guns at the BJP, Kumaraswamy had earlier said, “That Muslims become terrorists is not the case anymore. They have given rise to a situation where even those from the Hindu community can become terrorists. Because it is Rao, no one is saying anything. Maybe, the BJP bhakts are unhappy. If it were a Muslim, they would have cashed in on it.”

Aditya Rao, the main suspect in the case had surrendered to the Bengaluru police. The incident triggered a political slugfest thereon. Acting state Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday said, “The BJP may not be happy with this news. They would have preferred it a surname other than Rao.”

Meanwhile Mangaluru city police commissioner tweeted saying that his meeting with the ex CM was nothing more than a security visit for he too was a protectee. He also said that the city police was investigating the suspected explosive material found at the Mangaluru International Airport and had made progress on available leads. He also appealed to all the leaders of society to take a responsible stand with regards to the matter.

Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy told reporters on Tuesday that the entire Mangaluru bomb incident was just a “farce and the entire episode of defusing the bomb seems like a mock exercise.”

Speaking about the bag found at the Mangaluru International Airport on Monday he said, “The bag contained powder used for the manufacture of crackers. It was not a live bomb.”

He further lashed out at the government saying that incident was doctored to appease some organizations. He said, “I would like to ask the government the fact about yesterday’s bomb incident. There is no truth in it. There was no live bomb in it. It was a conspiracy to create a rift between two communities. Looking at the way the police tried to defuse the bomb, I feel like taking a decision in future to honor them duly. I have not woven stories, but I’ve been quoting the stories appearing in the media.”

“Ten kilograms of live bomb has made the people of the state panic. An iron box in the bag contained cracker powder and wire pieces in it and there were no detonators to explode it. A large container has been brought to shift the bag and defuse it. Defusing takes place only when a bomb is found. It seems like a mock exercise. Don’t try to breach the trust of people in the state. This is not a government of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad or RSS. Don’t create rift between religions,” he added.

Kumaraswamy also mentioned that the incident was suspicious especially because it took place during the unrest due to the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens protests in the state. He said, “We have been witnessing developments that create a tension in the minds of the people. Mangaluru and coastal region were peaceful during the 14 months of the coalition government. Due to the central government’s decisions with regards to the CAA and NRC, we have been witnessing protests across the nation. The December 19 violence in Mangaluru has created an atmosphere where people lost trust. The government has forgotten its responsibility to solve major issues before the nation when the nation is witnessing protests and campaigns related to CAA and NRC.”

Suspecting foul play he asked, “While the Chief Minister is in Davos wooing investors, the BJP’s actions are portraying Mangaluru as a communal city. How will this help attract investments? Media reports state that the accused is an engineer and was trying to secure a job at the Mangaluru airport. Today, unemployment is a huge problem. I want to highlight this point to the attention of both the Home Minister and the Prime Minister of this country.”

Aiming his guns at the BJP, Kumaraswamy had earlier said, “That Muslims become terrorists is not the case anymore. They have given rise to a situation where even those from the Hindu community can become terrorists. Because it is Rao, no one is saying anything. Maybe, the BJP bhakts are unhappy. If it were a Muslim, they would have cashed in on it.”

Aditya Rao, the main suspect in the case had surrendered to the Bengaluru police. The incident triggered a political slugfest thereon. Acting state Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday said, “The BJP may not be happy with this news. They would have preferred it a surname other than Rao.”

Meanwhile Mangaluru city police commissioner tweeted saying that his meeting with the ex CM was nothing more than a security visit for he too was a protectee. He also said that the city police was investigating the suspected explosive material found at the Mangaluru International Airport and had made progress on available leads. He also appealed to all the leaders of society to take a responsible stand with regards to the matter.

This scathing open letter on face book exposes not just the ill-informed rants of the former minister and BJP Member of Parliament (MP) from Sultanpur, Maneka Gandhi but challenges her and her party to please enact a law not to use elephants (or cranes) in public gatherings, festivals and processions, which the writer says will get all Kerala’s support

This scathing open letter on face book exposes not just the ill-informed rants of the former minister and BJP Member of Parliament (MP) from Sultanpur, Maneka Gandhi but challenges her and her party to please enact a law not to use elephants (or cranes) in public gatherings, festivals and processions, which the writer says will get all Kerala’s support

Videos

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In this SabrangIndia exclusive video, Pandit Anindya Banerjee, classical musician Kallol Ghoshal and folk researcher Niladri Sekhar DasSharma talk about the Influence of Islam on Indian Music and how the Sufis, known for their great love for music and acceptance of many indigenous customs, allowed Syncretism to flourish in Bengal.